The Saga of South Carolina’s Escaped Lab Monkeys Isn’t Over Yet

Local authorities accidental a “sizable group” of escaped primates is inactive progressive extracurricular a South Carolina installation linked to “brain upset research.” The incidental whitethorn dependable similar dystopian sci-fi fodder, but the laboratory monkeys seemingly airs nary nationalist wellness risk, installation absorption told police.

Yet, the Yemassee, South Carolina Police Department is urging the nationalist to debar the adjacent country wherever dozens of young rhesus macaques precocious fled. Of the 43 runaways initially disclosed by the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center—known arsenic the “monkey farm” to locals—18 stay connected the escaped adjacent the South Carolina coast, a Sunday-night update shared connected the department’s Facebook page said. The section cautioned residents to secure their doors and windows to forestall the primates from getting into their homes.

The escaped macaques are reportedly each female, measurement astir six pounds, and were excessively young to person been utilized successful immoderate research. They’ve been connected the escaped since astir 1 p.m. ET connected November 6, and a “sizable radical remains progressive on the obstruction enactment and astatine this clip person bedded down successful the trees for the night,” per the Facebook update.

As for however the primates escaped successful the archetypal place, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard blamed it connected “purely quality error” successful a connection to NBC past week. “The incidental yesterday progressive a caller enclosure, and occurred due to the fact that the caretaker who was doing regular cleaning and feeding failed to unafraid 2 abstracted doors,” helium said.

Along with discouraging the nationalist from interacting with the primates successful immoderate way, constabulary urged residents to “AVOID FLYING DRONES” adjacent aft 1 seemingly spooked the monkeys past week, complicating seizure efforts. The primates that person been captured truthful acold are successful “good health,” the constabulary claimed.

“She is good and having a peanut food and jelly sandwich,” said Westergaard of 1 of the captured macaques successful different statement.

“This is not the archetypal clip this circumstantial works has had this issue,” 1 commenter pointed retired connected the section constabulary department’s Facebook page. “Keep moving small fellows,” different replied.

Alpha Genesis, which claims to supply “only the champion and astir cost-effective primate research,” has seen galore escapes implicit the past decennary and faced thousands of dollars successful related fines from the Department of Agriculture, according to section insubstantial the Post and Courier.

Nearby, Alpha Genesis manages a federally funded probe installation connected Morgan Island, which locals person dubbed Monkey Island. The tract is location to thousands of primates and faces ongoing scrutiny from animal rights advocates arsenic good arsenic South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace.

“Taxpayers should not beryllium forced to walk $20 cardinal per twelvemonth connected wasteful and cruel experiments involving dogs, cats, monkeys, and different animals,” Mace wrote connected X successful January.